Slather on sunscreen correctly

Preventing sunburns reduces your risk of developing skin cancer later in life. It also helps your skin from aging prematurely.

The best way to avoid a sunburn is to avoid the sun, but who wants to do that after suffering through one of Erie's coldest winters in recent memory?

So it's time to slather on the sunscreen, which protects your skin from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays. But we sometimes make mistakes when applying sunscreen, so here are some tips:

Buy sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher that provides broad-spectrum coverage. That means it blocks both UVA and UVB rays, said Debbie DeAngelo, R.N., a UPMC Hamot holistic health coach.

"Check the expiration date when you buy sunscreen," DeAngelo said. "Some ingredients degrade over time, making the sunscreen ineffective. Don't buy sunscreen if it doesn't have a date."

Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you go outside. It takes some time for your skin to absorb the sunscreen and provide the best protection.

Putting on your sunscreen a half-hour before you start swimming or playing outside also makes it less likely the sunscreen will wash off, DeAngelo said.

"If you are using a sunscreen spray, you might want to apply it in your garage, so the wind doesn't blow some of it away and leave parts of your body exposed," DeAngelo said.

"People sometimes forget to put sunscreen on bald heads, the tops of feet and hands," DeAngelo said. "If you're driving, you want to use sunscreen on your left arm and the left side of your face. You can get sunburned even while driving."

Don't skimp on the stuff. Cover your skin in a thick layer of sunscreen, DeAngelo said.

"Put it on like it's skin lotion," DeAngelo said. "You are supposed to use an ounce of it, which is the size of a shot glass."

Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours. That time frame is based on people who are sunbathing or doing other leisurely activities.

"Reapply it more often if you're swimming or sweating profusely," DeAngelo said. "No matter what it says on the label."

DAVID BRUCE can be reached at 870-1736 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNbruce.